Don't Get Caught in the Cold!

The cold season is upon us! Many of us dread the feeling of going out in the cold to shovel snow, pick up the paper or deal with any home emergencies. The cold weather has begun and we've had a taste of snow. Now is an ideal time than to prepare your home for the Winter weather ahead.

It's never fun to get caught in the dead of winter with a broken furnace, roof-leaks, cold drafts, icy walkways, or any other nuisance to hinder a warm hybernation.

Prepare your Home for Winter with the final checklist of 'To Do' items to prevent any emergencies from happening that could cool your spirits and your home.

Winter Prep Checklist:
Make Your Home a
Warmer Place

There are many things you can do inside your home to make it a warmer place over the Winter season. Even if you like the snowy weather, cold drafts can result in heat loss which can cost you in access of $500. Complete the Indoor checklist for around your home to keep warm tight and draft free through those cold winter days.

Indoor Checklist:
1. Check around your home to detect any areaswhere heat may be lost. For example, find and fix air leaks around windows, under doors, foundation, electrical outlets, exhaust fans, and attic openings. Reseal any and all questionable weather stripping.

2. Inspect the insulation in your attic and basement to be sure you have a proper amount. Patch up any areas that are sparse or show holes. Contact an Insulation company to complete a full home inspection for proper and efficient insulation and patch up any places that require more for the winter months.

3. Wrap your hot water heater in an insulating jacket. The harder it has to work to keep your water warm, the more it costs you to keep.

4. Maintain and clean your furnace and filters regularly.

5. Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts, and to ensure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating equipment is operating at peak efficiency.

Click here for the entire, printable checklist >>

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Winter Prep Checklist Outdoor:
A Little Maintenance Results
In a Lot of Prevention.

If everything is setup for Winter maintenance around your home, you'll have less struggles and less problems to deal with come Spring time. Review the Outdoor Checklist to get organized a prepared for the snowy Winter season.

Outdoor Checklist:
1. Prune shrubs that may block airflow to your heat pump.

2. Clean out the gutters around your house from mud and fallen leaves.

3. If you have a chimney have it cleaned out and checked for blockage. This is crutial for both heating and Indoor Air Quality.

4. Get out all the winter maintenance materials so they are at hand when needed. Including a bucket of sand for walkways, the snow blower and shovels. Check and start up your snowblower. Ensure it is full of gasoline to insure proper air/gas mixture.

5. Wrap up hedges and small bushes in burlap and twine to prevent the limbs from breaking from heavy snowfalls that collect and ice over.

Click here for the entire, printable checklist >>

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Prevent Ice Dams and the
Damage They Cause

With energy costs rising, you probably have already sealed any cracks and drafts around your windows and doors to make your home more energy efficient, but have you considered the financial impact of heat loss through your ceilings? While drafts around doors and windows will cost a few more dollars in heating bills, heat loss through your roof can result in thousands of dollars in damage.

Why? The answer is ice damming....more>>

Article Submitted by
Norma McDonlad,
Registered Insurance Broker

Donovan Insurance Brokers
68 Regina St., Waterloo, ON
Ph: 519-886-3150 ext 253

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